Judged Show 2021

Entry Information and Rules

DATES: Please make note of the dates.

 

May 27, 2021 Online entry closes at 12:00 Noon CST
By July 1, 2021 Notifications emailed to all artists who submitted
August 6, 2021 Last day to receive quilts in office – Contact us with any questions.
TBA Notification of winners (ONLY winners are contacted.)
TBA Winners Celebration
October 27, 2021 Preview Night at International Quilt Festival
October 28 – October 31, 2021 International Quilt Festival/Houston (quilts on display)
November 5 – December 3, 2021 Quilts packed & return shipped

All of the dates you need are listed, including the date the quilts are due and return shipping dates.

Quilts are to be entered for judging in the categories defined below. Special Exhibits and its jurors or judges reserve the right to move an entry to a category other than the one in which it was entered without notifying the entrant. Final placement will be at the discretion of the judges.

All of the dates you need are listed, including the date the quilts are due and return shipping dates.

NOTIFICATIONS OF ACCEPTANCE OR DECLINE:

  • An email will be sent to you by July 1, 2021.
  • Please whitelist the email address calls@quiltfestivalcallforentries.com.
  • If you do not receive an email, please check your spam or junk folder.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of the Judged Show are to promote and encourage the art and appreciation of quilt-making. We strive to encourage excellence in quilt making and to educate quilters and the general public by presenting the finest examples of traditional and contemporary quilts that can be produced by:

  • Providing an exhibition and competition to spotlight the current work of quiltmakers and
  • Rewarding excellence in design and craftsmanship through the presentation of awards based on qualified and impartial judging.

ENTRY FEES ARE $30 PER QUILT.

CATEGORIES AND DEFINITIONS:

  • Quilts are to be entered for judging in the categories defined below.
  • Special Exhibits, its jurors, or judges reserve the right to move an entry to a category other than the one in which it was entered without notifying the entrant.
  • Final placement will be at the discretion of the judges.

Please Note:

  • If you paid someone to quilt your quilt or to do any other work on it, this is work-for-hire and is not allowed in the judged show. (See Rule 3)
  • It is the entrant’s responsibility to obtain all necessary copyright releases for work that is covered under the copyright laws of the United States. This may include work derived from or copied from the photo or art of another, quilts made from patterns, etc. You must also give proper credit for the design on the entry form. Entrant will provide Special Exhibits with a copy of the copyright release upon request. (See Rule 18)

Abstract

This category features abstract, cutting edge, and non-literal, non-traditional quilts, the emphasis being on color, line, and design. It includes alternative techniques such as thread/ribbon/yarn embellishments and fabric manipulation or quilts whose visual impact is created with buttons, beads, fabric origami, embroidery, hot-fixed crystals, felting, couching, attached fibers, etc. The basic design of the quilt may also be painted in this category. The “painting” on the surface of the quilt may be produced with paints, dyes, colored pens, colored pencils, etc. Any design that yields an abstract image on a quilt surface would belong in this category. Quilts in this category may be any size.

Appliqué

Quilts in this category can be appliquéd with any appliqué technique. Quilts may be based on traditional style patterns and sets, or they may be derived from fundamental changes to established patterns and sets. Quilts in this category may be any size within the rules. If you feel that it would fit another category better, you may enter it there, keeping in mind that judges have the final say in category placement.

Hand Quilted/ Hand Made

Quilts in this category are made by hand. Hand pieced quilts with hand quilting should be entered in this category. Hand-quilted quilts may be entered here if they are appliquéd. Hand-appliquéd quilts could be entered in this category.

Machine Quilting

Quilts in this category have an emphasis on the quality of the quilting stitches and quilting pattern. Any quilt which is machine quilted on a frame-mounted or stationary machine may be entered in this category. Wholecloth quilts quilted on a frame machine, with the exception of miniature quilts, should be entered in this category. Quilts in this category may be any size, within the rules, except miniature.

Pictorial

This category features any art quilt that illustrates a recognizable image, such as objects, still life, cityscapes, warm or cold-blooded animals, people, portraits, or figures, etc. Non-realistic animals, insects, people, places, or things may be entered in this category. Fictitious creatures and fairytale or cartoon-type quilts also belong in this category. Naturescapes which contain aspects of natural scenery in natural surroundings may be entered. Quilts based on realistic photographs would be entered here. This is for non-traditional quilts. Quilts in this category may be any size, within the rules, except miniature.

Pieced

Quilts in this category should be pieced. Quilts may be based on traditional style patterns and sets, or they may be derived from fundamental changes to established patterns and sets.

If they are smaller than 25” and reflect reduced scale they should be entered into the Miniature category.

and

Miniature

Quilts in this category have overall patterns reflecting reduced scale and miniaturization. If blocks are used, they should be no larger than 4 inches (10 cm) square. Miniature wholecloth quilts should be entered in this category. Quilts must measure less than or equal to 24 inches (60.5 cm) on each side.

SIZES: (for all Categories but Miniature)

Width=side-to-side Minimum Width is 25" Maximum Width is 100"

Height = top-to-bottom Minimum Height is 25” Maximum Height is 100”

 

Miniature Quilts

Width = side-to-side Minimum Width is 12” Maximum Width is 24”

Height = top-to-bottom Minimum Height is 12” Maximum Height is 24”

 

OTHER DEFINITIONS:

Original

A work composed firsthand – a fresh design or style. A creation produced requiring thought, without replicating the works of others.

False Back

A false back is an extra backing fabric that is added to cover the back of a quilt. It prevents the quilting stitches from being seen when viewed from the back. False backs are not allowed in the show.

Kit Quilts

Composed of patterns, fabrics, and quilting designs packaged as a unit for retail sale. This includes packaged patterns and fabrics for workshops or classes, blocks-of-the-month, and pre-printed whole-cloth quilt tops. These are not allowed in the show. Reproductions or adaptations of kit quilts will not be accepted.

Work-for-Hire

Any work done for payment of any kind, including a business arrangement. This is not allowed in the show.

Pre-Quilted Fabrics

Fabric that is quilted at the time of purchase. This type of fabric cannot be used.

 

RULES

 

ENTRY DEADLINE: May 27, 2021 at 12:00 Noon CST

ENTRY FEES ARE $30 PER QUILT

  1. Each entry must have been completed after January 1, 2018. Quilts that have been altered, amended, or modified at any date after completion will be required to retain the original completion date.
  2. You may enter up to two (2) quilts to be juried for the show. If you are the second quiltmaker on a two-person quilt, it counts as one of your entries. If you are submitting the entry for a group, it counts as one of your entries; however, if you are a participant in the group, it does not.
  3. Quilts that have been made by two people (including quilting stitches) may be entered in the show and must be a collaboration between two artists and not a business arrangement or part of a work-for-hire agreement. (See definitions) Both quiltmakers must be named.
  4. The majority of the quilt must consist of three (3) distinct layers—top, middle layer, and backing. Quilts must be quilted by hand and/or machine with three exceptions—Crazy quilts, which can be tied or quilted, Cathedral Windows-style quilts, and Yo-Yo quilts.
  5. No rods may be sewn into the sleeves of the quilts.
  6. Your quilt must be able to be stacked with other quilts and boxed and/or rolled with other quilts without potential damage to your quilt or any other quilt in the show. This determination is at the sole discretion of Special Exhibits and can result in disqualification from exhibition. If this is the case, entrant will be notified. In such cases, no fees will be refunded. Direct any questions to the Special Exhibits office.
  7. Odd-shaped quilts and quilts with multiple panels must be mounted on black fabric containing a sleeve (see rules 9 & 10). The top half of these quilts must be sewn securely to the black fabric. The bottom half should be loose so the judges can examine the back of the quilt. The black fabric must not extend past the outermost edges of your quilt. (Quilts with multiple panels hanging side-by-side horizontally may be mounted to a single black sleeve, but the quilt measurements should be taken after the sleeve is added.)
  8. A 4-inch (10 cm) full-length double sleeve must be attached to the top of the back of the quilt for display. (Instructions are on our website at. You can link to them here.)
  9. Any quilt measuring less than or equal to 24 inches x 24 inches (60.5 cm x 60.5 cm) may use a 2-inch (5 cm) sleeve. Direct any questions to the Special Exhibits office.
  10. Any quilt measuring longer than 86 inches (218 cm) must have a second double 4-inch (10 cm) sleeve sewn to the full width of the quilt below the top sleeve, as follows. The top of the second sleeve should be between 82 inches (208 cm) and 86 inches (218 cm) from the BOTTOM of the quilt and must not overlap the top sleeve.(If your quilt is more than 86 inches (218 cm) in length, your quilt will be folded over at the top and will be hung using the second sleeve. You can link to instructions for a second sleeve here.) Quilts without the proper sleeve are subject to disqualification. Direct any questions to the Special Exhibits office.
  11. Quilts must be labeled at bottom back left corner and must include the name of the quilt and the contact information for the quiltmaker(s).
  12. All quilts must arrive clean, undamaged, and free of strong odors in order to be judged and shown. Special Exhibits reserves the right to omit an entry from judging or display if the quality or condition does not meet standards upon hands-on inspection.
  13. Special Exhibits reserves the right to omit from exhibition any accepted piece that differs dramatically from what is represented by the entry visuals. If this is the case, the entrant will be notified. In such cases, no fees will be refunded. The decision as to whether the difference is significant is entirely at the discretion of Special Exhibits.
  14. Entrants should make every effort to choose the proper category; however, Special Exhibits and its jurors and judges reserve the right to move an entry to a category other than the one in which it was entered without notifying the entrant. Final placement will be at the discretion of the judges.
  15. Your accepted quilt must be available for judging and display from August 6through October 31, 2021. No quilt will be taken down before the end of Festival (Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.) Due to the large number of quilts exhibited, items not picked up after Festival will be shipped by December 3, 2021, unless special arrangements have been made.
  16. All decisions of the jurors and judges are final. Special Exhibits reserves the right to decline any entry, including those that fail to follow the quilt contest rules.
  17. All prizes will be issued in the name of the submitting entrant for disbursement. Only one prize ribbon will be awarded per quilt. In the event that a two-person or group quilt wins one of the top eight named awards, only the submitting artist will receive the trip to fall Festival and associated benefits.
  18. It is the entrant’s responsibility to obtain all necessary copyright releases for work that is covered under the copyright laws of the United States. This may include work derived from, or copied from, the photo or art of another, quilts made from patterns, etc. You must also give proper credit for the design on the entry form. Entrant will provide Special Exhibits with a copy of the copyright release upon request.
  19. Winning quilts from Best of Show through Honorable Mention will be offered the opportunity to travel to another Quilts, Inc. show(s). On the submission form, please indicate if you will allow your quilt to travel.
  20. Shipping to and from the show will be paid for by the artist. Payment arrangements will be addressed in the acceptance letter.

SAVING & SUBMITTING YOUR DIGITAL IMAGES

  1. Each entry requires you to upload one full view of the quilt and one detail view.
  2. The full view image should show all edges of the finished quilt.
  3. For the detail image, try to show a portion of the quilt that relates to the category and/or an important part of the quilt, as well as some of the quilting stitches.
  4. Please crop the photo(s) so that there is minimal background.
  5. If you open your photos in image editing software to crop the background, you will be asked how to save the photo when you are done. Save as a JPEG, RGB color (the default setting in most image editing programs), standard or baseline setting, and set the quality to maximum. No CMYK images or progressive setting JPEGs will be accepted.
  6. The finished image should be at least 2400 pixels on the longest side (If your image has less than 2400 pixels on the longest side, do not increase it within the software program. Instead, take another picture that has a higher resolution.) We recommend a maximum size of 3600 pixels in the longest side.
  7. There is no requirement to label the image file names. The system will automatically rename them after they are uploaded.
  8. Image size should not exceed 3MB, 2400 pixels.
  9. For more photography tips and some additional resources, please go to our website at www.quilts.com or click here.

SELLING YOUR QUILT:

You may choose to offer your quilt for sale in the Judged Show with 25% of the selling price to be donated to Quilts, Inc.

FINALIST’S LIABILITY/INSURANCE INFORMATION

Accepted quilts should be insured through the owner’s individual insurance company. Quilts, Inc. will insure each quilt against a major catastrophe from the time we receive the quilt until it is shipped back to the owner. While Quilts, Inc. uses every precaution to protect and safeguard each quilt after arrival and during exhibition, we will not be responsible for any other damage or loss.

If the work is not for sale, the artist is still required to state an insurance value on the submission form. The amount the quilt is insured for should equal the amount the artist would price the quilt if it were for sale.